*UPDATE* 09/16/09: ZvS just got a MASSIVE update with loads of new goodies, see post #34570 for details!

iPhone Game Review: Zombies vs. Sheep

What made you think it would be a good idea to bring your sheep to a Dia de los Muertos Marionette Show? You and your tasty lamb kabob are doomed, the only thing left is to see how many of these shoddily made demonic puppets you can take out before it?s curtains for you.

The mechanics to this game can be quickly summed up. Tap the screen to shoot the Zombie Marionettes, tilt your iDevice to move your sheep, and shake your iDevice to reload your weapon. When I say shoddily made marionettes, it is not a knock on the graphics but these silly puppets start falling apart the second they appear on the screen and unless you manage to shoot them in the head quickly, their heads will leave their crumbling bodies behind and take the form of a deadly Flaming Skull. Your poor little Bait Sheep not only has to avoid the raining Flaming Skulls (if one hits your poor little sheep you?ll lose one of your initial 3 hearts), but has to scramble about to collect the dropping coins (how your sheep can pickup and store these coins is never really explained). So now, even though you and your sheep are marked for death and you can?t escape the haunted theatre, you?re more than free at any time to duck out of the action for a trip to the concession stand for sheep medications and upgrades to your weapons.

As must be clear by now, this game is based on a true story. The graphics are incredible cartoony 2D but with a hint of layering reminiscent of the old Monty Python cartoons made almost entirely of sliding around random cutout images. The sounds are spot on with realistic six shooter sounds, sad sheep bahs when hit, and some up tempo twangy old west styled banjo music in the background. Want to see what I?m talking about here? Check out the video below.

Ratings (scale of 1 to 5):

Graphics: -4.5- Incredibly original.Sound: -4- Spot on sound effects and fun old west inspired music.Controls: -5- It?s a perfect blend of intuitive tap and tilt controls. Gameplay: -4.5- The game is so ludicrous and bizarre that it?s hard to put down. It also does a great job slowly introducing you to more and more hectic situations. There are even several boss monsters to face down if you can last long enough.

Playing Hints and Tips:-Keep an eye on your ammo! The game will warn you when low on ammo but if you decide to keep firing without heeding the warning you?ll soon just be haring empty clicks without anything firing. To reload you can shake the iDevice or tap on the appropriate area in the upper left corner.-Blast the zombies up good! Only by shooting a Zombie Marionette in the head can you stop it from turning into a dreaded Flaming Skull. The trick, however, is to hit the rotting puppet in the head, chest, and maybe a few limbs before it falls apart to gain even more coins for Mr. Lambikins.-Don?t forget the concession stand! How you plan to spend the money on your sheep and weapons is your call. I don?t know of any ideal upgrade scheme but do know letting the money sit there unspent is just silly. Sadly you can?t take it with you where you?re going. -Don?t shoot the Doves! Doves are your friends. Sometimes they?ll drop life sustaining hearts for you.